Nationwide — Yerkoy Rayshun Shuler, a 42-year-old African American man from Georgia visiting his daughter in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, reportedly died after a traffic stop led to his arrest and sudden collapse while in police custody. He was in town to attend his daughter’s graduation.
According to the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), officers cited Shuler’s “erratic behavior” and suspected involvement with drugs as reasons for asking him to step out of his vehicle, 11 Alive said.
Shuler was arrested for misdemeanor charges of resisting, delaying, and obstructing a public officer.
Initially cooperative with officers, Shuler reportedly resisted when asked to place his hands behind his back and attempted to reach into his car. After a struggle, officers managed to handcuff him and place him in a patrol car.
During the vehicle search, Shuler’s behavior reportedly became increasingly agitated. Police observed him behaving unusually and called for EMS around 1:05 a.m. after he stopped responding to questions.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but despite efforts to save him, Shuler was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
In response to the incident, WSPD has initiated an independent investigation led by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), standard protocol for any death that occurs while in police custody. The department has pledged full cooperation with the investigation process.
